THESOURCE OF THE NILE. 177 



is adefert, hilly diftrict, called Adebarea, the country of the 

 flaves, as being the neighbourhood of the Shangalla, the 

 whole country between being wafle and uninhabited. 



The mountains of Waldubba, refembling thofe of Ade- 

 barea, lay north of us about four or five miles. Waldubba, 

 which fignifies the Valley of the Hyarna^ is a territory entirely in- 

 habited by the monks, who, for mortification's fake, have 

 retired to this unwholefome, hot, and dangerous country, 

 voluntarily to fpend their lives in penitence, meditation, 

 and prayer. This, too, is the only retreat of great men in 

 difgrace or in difguft. Thefe firit fhave their hair, and put 

 on a cowl like the monks, renouncing the world for foli- 

 tude, and taking vows which they refolve to keep no longer 

 than exigencies require ; after which they return to the 

 world again, leaving their cowl and fanctky in Waldubba. 



These monks are held in great veneration ; are believed 

 by many to have the gift of prophecy, and fome of them to 

 work miracles, and are very active inftruments to ftir up 

 the people in time of trouble. Thofe that I have feen out of 

 Waldubba in Gondar, and about Kofcam, never fhewed any 

 great marks of abftinence ; they ate and drank every thing 

 without fcruple, and in large quantities too. They fay they 

 live otherwife in Waldubba, and perhaps it may be fo. There 

 are women, alio, whom we mould call Nuns, who, though 

 not refiding in Waldubba, go at times thither, and live in a 

 familiarity with thefe faints, that has very little favour of 

 fpirituality ; and many of thefe, who think the living in 

 community with this he ly fraternity has not in it per- 

 fection enough to fatisfy their devotion, retire, one of each 

 fex, a hermit and a nun, fequeftering themfelves for months, 



Vol. III. Z to 



